Can Someone Help Me Create My Own Banner?

[alterheld]

look for window BG 2

[Kaz]

BG 2?

I checked window background 2. Is that it?


site:http://ni-gen-discuss-forum.proboards.com/index.cgi

[alterheld]

In the admin panel, under modify skins and forum colors; click Modify Skin. On the next page, click continue. Then scroll down until you see window bg 2 and change that color. thats the one you were looking for i believe.

[Kaz]

It was under Window BG 1. My bad. OK, I guess we're ready to proceed. I just have to fix one thing. Do you think that I should adjust my banner color scheme?

[Kaz]

OK! Now where do we go?

my site:http://ni-gen-discuss-forum.proboards.com/index.cgi

[alterheld]

maybe you would want to use the two color purples on your forum instead though? up to you, looks good as it too.

Next step is what kind of forum is it? would you want pictures in your banner to promote this (i.e. a forum about lions, might want pictures about lions)? If I may assume, based on the title, that your forum is a general forum - maybe a picture of a globe or a logo or something?

I'm going to use a globe as an example. Insert the thing you actually want wherever I say "globe"
Google Image search for globe (make sure it doesnt have a copyright watermark or something that makes it so you cant use it). Create a new document in Gimp, make sure it's the size of the globe picture you searched for, and paste that image in the new document. Next, select the Pen tool (3rd column, 2nd row on the toolbox). This is going to give you the ability to outline the globe.

Click anywhere on the direct edge of the globe and a dot should appear. Feel free to zoom in as much as needed so you can see the edge clearly. Click again somewhere on the edge to create a line between the to dots. You want that line to follow the edge of the globe as well as you can make it, but don't worry it doesnt have to be perfect. Continue outlining the globe until you reach back at where you began.
Next, look on the right of the screen, where your layer panel is (layers, channels, paths... should be the name in the top of this window). Near the top, you'll see four tabs - the first is layers, the second is channels, third is paths, and fourth is undo history. Click on the third one, paths. You should see that the outline for the globe is there. Click on it, so that you have it selected.
Look below that big white box that the outline is in, you should see 8 symbols: a piece of paper, two arrows, and a few squares etc. When you hover over the fifth one in from the left, it should read path to selection. Click that button and on your document everything but the globe should disappear.
Now on the top bar (where file, edit, etc. are) click on select and go down to Feather and click that. A window pops up; set it to 1 pixel and press ok.
Back on the top bar, click edit and copy. Open up your banner document and click "edit", then "paste as...", then "new layer".

Now the globe is a new layer in your banner. On the right panel with the four tabs (as mentioned before) click on the first tab, Layers. You should see the background and your globe as two seperate layers.

[Kaz]

Do I have to outline an image or can I just use a square shaped image?

[alterheld]

you can use a square image if you want; you don't even have to use an image, in fact - you can just skip right to text

I'm logging off for the night; ill be back on tomorrow. I'll catch your reply then.

[Kaz]

Sounds good. Thanks man!

[Kaz]

I followed the instructions given here and in gimp correctly right up until I go to click on the feather option, but it is faded and won't let me click on it. What am I doing wrong?

[alterheld]

you're probably not converting your pen outline into a selection. After you outline everything, on the right panel top there'll be four tabs. The third one is paths dialog. Click it. Your pen outline should be there. Click it so that it is a dark grey. Then near the bottom/middle of that window there'll be 8 small buttons. Click the 5th from the left, it should be a button with a red box.
After you do that, your pen outline is now a selection, at which point you should be able to use the feather option.

http://i2./y48/Kenshidu/TEMP.jpg

[Kaz]

OK I'll give it a try.

[Kaz]

I think that I did everything correct, but I guess not. What I thought that I'd do is type in the exact process I use up until the "Layer" stage of the logo creation. I'm just looking to make both of our lives easier. lol

1. I click on the rectangular icon at the top left of the "Tools" bar.

2. I set the dimensions of the image I am using.

3. I click on "File" from the window in the middle.

4. I once again set the dimensions, then click "OK".

5. I paste the image inside the square shaped frame.

6. I click on the "Pen Tool" icon.

7. I trace around the shape of the logo(in my case, square)

8. I click "Paths Dialogue" (A blank square is present below.)

This is were I stop. I clicked on the tiny square below a bunch of times, but it doesn't turn gray. It's at this point I get stuck. Still no way to select "Feather".

Does it matter if I "Hotlinked" the chosen image or not?